American Revolution

The American Revolution vividly illustrates through a collection of fascinating primary documents how in the space of a few hundred years contented colonists -- the majority of whom were transplanted English citizens -- would form an independent country that could challenge the greatest world power of the time -- and win. The American Revolution explores the colonies' break with Great Britain the resulting war to gain independence and the struggle to create a successful government for the new United States. Steven C. Bullock turns to such documents as Common Sense the Declaration of Independence diaries newspaper debates slave petitions and a pictorial essay on Paul Revere showing that the words and actions of common men as well as great men played important roles in making the Revolution not just a coup d'Etat but a genuine change that shook the foundations of authority and dramatically changed American society.